Fed up with media, Trump launches 'nightly campaign coverage'

William Cummings , USA TODAY , KING1:25 PM. EDT October 25, 2016

NAPLES, FL - OCTOBER 23: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Collier County Fairgrounds on October 23, 2016 in Naples, Florida. Early voting in Florida in the presidential election begins October 24. (Photo: Joe Raedle, Custom)

The Trump campaign launched what it says will be "nightly campaign coverage" in a live broadcast on the Republican nominee's Facebook page Monday night.

The coverage began at 6:30 p.m. ET, the same time as most network nightly newscasts. Hosted by Trump campaign advisers Boris Epshteyn and Cliff Sims, the show was broadcast from the campaign war room in Trump Tower via Facebook Live, the social media platform's live streaming feature.

The show included an interview with campaign manager KellyAnne Conway and a segment with conservative commentator Tomi Lahren. Although shot to mimic a news program, the broadcast was essentially a campaign advertisement with only glowing coverage of Trump and sharp criticism of his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton. After about 40 minutes the broadcast cut to live coverage of Trump's speech from Tampa, Fla.

Trump has derided the media and alleged bias throughout the campaign, but he has ramped up his criticism in recent weeks. The campaign says it intends to use Facebook Live broadcasts to take the candidate's message directly to the voters.

Some have speculated that Trump intends to launch his own television network — which some have referred to as Trump TV — if his presidential bid fails.

Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, discussed the idea of a Trump television network with a chief executive at an investment bank that has worked on past media deals, the Financial Times reported last week. The discussion was brief and "has not progressed since," according to the report.

“We all know how strong the left wing media bias is. This is us delivering our message to voters,” Epshteyne told Wired. “It has nothing to do with Trump TV. It’s about using 21st-century technology and communication in a way that’s effective.”

Trump has denied any interested in starting a TV network. “I want to win the presidency," he told The Washington Post in September. "I have no interest in a media company. False rumor.”